Part 15 Concern

Arnav felt bad for Khushi. He didn't know what to say but Khushi decided what to do.

"Sir, could you do me a favour?" her voice choked.

"Anything, Khushi. Tell me what do you want me to do?"

"Could you transfer me to some other city's branch of our company?"

Arnav was stuck. He knew why she wanted to get a transfer. In fact, it was a good idea but he didn't think it was the right solution.

"I don't want to be in Delhi, sir. I will lose my confidence completely if I will be here..." She said and she knew Arnav would arrange for it but,

"No, Khushi... you should not leave Delhi. You should be here as an answer to your problem. Why should you run when you are not at mistake?"

"But, sir..."

"You don't realize the negative side of the problem. In Delhi, some people could help you. You have earned some friends here. What will you do in the strange city? What will you do if Naveen and your mother follow you there? How will you handle them alone?"

Khushi was stuck. Yes, why didn't she think of the possibility? Garima and Naveen were capable of doing that. What would she do if it happened?

"Don't make any decision when you are stressed. Take two days and think, calming your mind. Then decide... ok?"

Khushi gulped down hard.

"Sleep well... sleeping is a good medicine for any problem. It will refresh your mind. So, without giving a place to Naveen in your mind, sleep. Just throw him away. Don't let that idiot occupy a space in your mind"

"Ok, sir"

"Good, go and eat something first. It's not good to be on an empty stomach and you can't sleep when you starve"

Khushi was stunned. How did he know she didn't eat anything?

"Sir, how do you know I don't eat anything?"

"When the situation is worse, you would not have the mood to eat anything... it's not a big deal to understand that"

"So sweet of you, sir"

"Go and eat something first. Good night"

"Good night, sir"

Arnav disconnected the call.

Khushi felt content. It was so soothing to have someone to ask, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

Arnav was right. She could not sleep if her stomach was empty. Even though she was not in the mood to eat anything, she didn't want to ignore Arnav's words. So, she decided to eat something. At the same time, she was not ready to go out. Garima would be there. She didn't like to interact with her mother... definitely not at the moment. She felt better after talking to Arnav. She didn't want to lose her temper again. So, she waited for all the lights to be switched off.

After 10:30, Garima went to her room after switching the lights off. Khushi came out of the room and headed to the dining table. Taking two bananas from the table, she again got back to her room and ate the bananas.

Khushi lay on the bed, thinking about Arnav's words. How caring he was! He had no necessity to console her. Yet, he did it with concern. He was right. If she went to some other city, she would be left alone there. No one would be there for her help... especially, Arnav. She sighed and closed her eyes. She opened them jerking, hearing a message beep on her mobile. It was from Arnav. Taking it hurriedly, she read it.

"Did you eat anything?"

"Yes, sir... I ate bananas" she sent the reply.

"Good" his mobile went offline.

Khushi lay on the bed with a smile. She liked Arnav very much... for his concern, for his humanity, for his kindness...!

The next day

Khushi got ready for the office and came out of the room. She saw Garima sitting on the sofa making a face. Without giving heed to her, Khushi walked out, making her disappointed. Garima thought she would check the bowls on the dining table and raise a question about why she didn't cook anything but it didn't happen. Why would Khushi ask her when she knew Garima was going to be on strike?

Khushi came to the office. She saw Arnav's driver Mohan waiting out of her cabin with a bag. He smiled at her.

"Arnav sir asked me to give it to you, Madam"

Khushi took it from him and saw tiffin boxes in the bag. She understood it was her breakfast. Mohan left the place. Khushi walked into her cabin. WHY ARNAV WAS SO SWEET? Was the only question that was raised in her mind. Did he know she would be hungry? Did he know she would not have eaten anything? She started eating spilling tears. She didn't know why she cried. She didn't want to think about anything, especially about her mother and Naveen. Yet, she continued crying. She felt helpless.

Arnav wondered as Khushi didn't come to his cabin nor did she call him. He didn't know why. Taking the intercom, he called her.

"Good morning, sir"

"Good AFTERNOON Khushi"

"Good afternoon, sir"

"Come to my cabin"

"Yes, sir"

Arnav disconnected the call. Khushi made up herself and went to his cabin. Arnav leaned on his seat hearing the knock.

"Come in, Khushi,"

Khushi entered with her notepad, plastering a smile. Arnav folded her hands. He understood she was not out of the problem yet.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded yes looking down.

"Did you eat breakfast?"

She nodded again.

"Was that tasty?"

She again nodded.

"I expected you to thank me for sending you a tasty breakfast..." he tried to talk to her casually.

Khushi was silent.

"Won't you talk to me? Are you upset with me?"

Khushi raised her head and Arnav panicked to see her eyes teary.

"Khushi... why are you crying? Did they trouble you again? Are they..."

Cutting him,

"I didn't want to see you..."

"Whaaat?"

"it's because I know I could not hold my tears if I see you"

Arnav was dumbfounded.

"Why are you caring about me when even my mother is not...?"

Arnav blinked his eyes.

"You understand everything beautifully whether I eat or not, worried or not, sleep or not... everything... why my mother is not like you, sir?" she sobbed closing her face.

"Khushi relax... don't cry"

"I too don't want to cry, sir but I can't hold myself..." she said miserably.

"Khushi take your seat and relax..."

"I'm really, sorry sir... please excuse me... I'm sorry..." she rushed out of his cabin.

Arnav felt bad for her. He could understand her condition. He thought of helping her to get rid of the grief. He dialed Mohan. He received the call.

"Yes, sir"

"Don't take children to RM. Bring them to AR from the school. I will tell Dadi"

"Ok sir"

Arnav disconnected the call.

He believed Khushi would get fresh if she spent time with his kids.

Evening

As Arnav said, Mohan brought the children to AR. They rushed to Khushi's cabin straight. Khushi looked at them and smiled managing herself.

"Hiii..."

"Hi, Didi"

They rushed to Khushi and hugged her.

"What are you guys doing here?" Khushi asked.

"We don't know... Mohan uncle said Dad wants us to come here" Shali said.

"I guess he is going to take us for an outing," Aarav said.

"Haven't you guys met Dad yet?"

"No... we came to meet you first"

"Go and meet him. Don't know why he called you" Khushi said.

"We will meet him later," Shamli said.

"Bhai, ask her the riddle joke you asked us," Shali said excitedly.

"Riddle joke? What's that?" Khushi asked.

"Which is the strongest animal in the world?" Aarav asked.

"Elephant..."

"Wrong"

"Giraffe?"

"No..."

"Then?"

"Snail..."

"Snail?" Khushi frowned.

"Yes, it's because it carries his HOUSE on his back" they shared hi-fi laughingly.

"Ohhh..." Khushi closed her eyes smiling.

"When it is bad luck to see a black cat?" Shali asked.

"When we are going to auspicious program..."

"No... when you are a mouse..." She giggled.

"Eeeeee..." Khushi laughed.

"What makes the leaning tower of Pisa lean?" this was Shamli.

"Whaaaat?" Khushi asked, making a face.

"It doesn't eat much...!"

"God... I can't bear this..." Khushi chuckled.

"Why can't penguins fly?"

"It's because they are heavy"

"No, they can't afford plane tickets" They cackled.

"Enough... I can't..." Khushi joined her hands, making a crying face.

"Last one... last one..."

"Ok..." she sighed.

"What do you call a sleeping bull?"

"What I call...?" She thought.

"A bull-dozer..."

Khushi burst out laughing.

"Bhai, we will ask Dad also," Shamli said.

Khushi chuckled.

"You too come with us, Didi"

"No, you go..." Khushi said.

"No way... you should come with us"

They started dragging her with them. Without any choice, she went to Arnav's cabin. They pushed his cabin door and entered with Khushi without knocking on the door. Arnav smiled seeing them. He was not surprised to see Khushi with them. He knew they would go to her cabin and meet her before coming to his cabin.

"Did you come?"

"Yeah... we came..."

"Why did you call us, Dad?"

"Khushi wanted to meet you... that's why"

They looked at Khushi who was perplexed.

"Didn't you want to meet them?" he smiled.

"I want to meet them but..."

Cutting her,

"That's why I called them here," he said smiling at Khushi.

Khushi looked at him like, AGAIN? Yes, she understood he called them there to make her mood up.

To be continued...